Bite block



Jan. 11, 1966 P. I. ZANDBERG 3,228,107

BITE BLOCK Filed June 11, 1962 INVENTOR, PAUL. ZANDBERG;

TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,228,107 BITE BLOCK Paul I. Zandberg, 744 N. Martel Ave., Los Angeles 46, Calif Filed June 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,582 3 Claims. (CI. 3219) The present invention relates to improvements in bite blocks for use in denture prosthesis. The determining of bite position is important to the patient when either partial or full dentures are indicated. Otherwise, the dentures all not fit properly with resulting discomfiture to the patient.

As is generally known, a technique for the forming of dentures have been developed through the years by dental technicians consisting in the making of mandible and maxillia plaster casts with base plates formed of wax or shellac fitted over the plaster casts. Procedure also includes the use of an articulator and a determination of the maxillary and mandibular bites.

To determine proper maxillary and mandibular bits and arch relationship, I propose by this invention to provide what I term bite blocks which include blocks which readily adapt themselves to the compensating curve or curve of spec, as the term is used in dentistry, which readily fits the ridges of the upper and lower jaws and wherein the bite blocks are readily movable to accommodate for retrusive, protrusive, and lateral movements.

Further objects include bite blocks which are easily marked to determine center and lip lines and wherein the bite blocks for maxillary and mandibular bites may be secured together whereby the technician readily determines proper position of bite and the arrangement of teeth for either a partial or full denture.

A further object is the provision of bite blocks which may be readily positioned and locked to a cast or to a base plate.

A further object is the provision of a bite block which may be readily adjusted for size of arch.

Present procedure in determining bite utilizes in the majority of cases a softened sheet of wax or an extruded bar of wax which is heated over a Bunson burner and then placed on the base plate. As a rule, the sheet wax is relatively thin and may be rolled to thickness desired. Thereafter, either in the case of the sheet wax or the bar, this wax is shaped with a hot spatula by the dentist and sealed to a base plate. The dentist fashions the rim so as to approximate as closely as possible the final overall shape of the dentures. This requires considerable skill as the maxillary occlusal surface is a convex segment and the mandibular occlusal surface is a concave segment.

With my invention, the bite blocks conform to any size and shape of ridge whereby the dentist may vary position of the blocks and apply finger pressure to move the bite block to accepted or desired incisal and occlusal height standard. All other dimensions which the dentist must determine when using the old technique as outlined above, are incorporated or molded into the present bite blocks of the invention.

Further objects include a bite block which is inexpensive in cost of manufacture, sanitary, a throw-away item after use, and generally superior to methods and means new employed for determining bite, as the term is used in denture prosthesis.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is .a perspective View of the maxillary bite block and showing a ribbed channel for receiving the maxillary ridge;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom perspective view of the bite block shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top perspective view of the mandibular bite block;

Patented Jan. 11, 1966 FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of the bite block shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the bite block shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, positioned below a section of base plate;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the maxillary and mandibular bite blocks in contact and, likewise, showing base plates Within the grooves of said bite blocks;

FIGURE 7 shows the maxillary-mandibular bite blocks in juxtaposition within the mouth of the patient, the mouth being indicated by the dotted lines; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of FIG- URE 7.

Referring now to the drawing, each bite block shown in FIGURES l to 4 inclusive, is formed from dental wax of a character which permits the bite block to be adjusted for size of arch by spreading or closing the same. In this particular, the maxillary bite block consists of a member 1 having a channel 2, the member 1 conforming to the arch of the jaw, thus providing a substantially U-shaped member. The block construction provides a lingual flange 3, a buccal flange 4 and a labial flange 5 which is integral- 1y formed with the buccal flange. In the forming the channel, the buccal, labial and lingual flanges are integral with the occlusal wall 6. The flanges 3 and 4 are joined together by end flanges 7 and 8. The buccal and lingual flanges have variable height top edges, as shown at 9, 1i and 11. This form is used in order to accommodate the freenum, labial and buccal pouches within the mouth. The flanges 3, 4, and 5, are joined by transverse spaced apart walls or ribs, designated generally as 12. The occlusal surface of wall 6 is provided with locking members 13 and 14 which constitute enlargements or studs, and in the present instance are of triangular form.

The mandibular bite block is constructed in the same manner as the maxillary bite block with the exception that the occlusal surface is provided with a pair of elongated grooves 20 and 21 adapted to receive the locking studs 13 and 14 of the maxillary bite block, as shown in FIGURES 6 to 8 inclusive. This locking construction permits retrusive, protrusive and lateral movement between the bite blocks, as the locking studs 13 and 14 slide within or move within the grooves 20 and 21.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described, are as follows.

In FIGURE 5 I have shown the maxillary bite block adapted to receive the maxillary base plate 30, or in the absence of a base plate, a sheet of soft wax for reception within the channel 2, whereby when the bite block is pressed against the ridge, the soft wax adheres to the ribs 12. The same procedure is followed for the mandibular bite block utilizing a dental adhesive or zinc oxide paste for this purpose. The bite blocks are locked together, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 8 by running a hot spatula over and around the grooves 29 and 21 to warm the wax whereupon the bite blocks are brought together, the locking studs 13 and 14 adhering to the hot wax surfaces bounding the grooves. Upon the hot wax cooling, the two bite blocks are locked together. Bite blocks of the present invention are deemed to be novel as the average ridge of a mouth has many protuberances which may offer difiiculty where the general technique in determining relationship of ridges is adhered to. With my invention, the ribs 12 readily deform under heat and pressure and the ribs when heated by a spatula or by holding the bite block adjacent a Bunson burner readily adhere to a base plate or to a plaster block. All that is essential is that the dentist then seal the edges of the bite blocks.

The bite block can be used for the foundations of any of the intra and extra oral center-bearing pin tracers in use in dentistry today, simply by warming and positioning the metallic components to the foundation of the prepared blocks.

The present invention lends itself to a precentr-ic or mush bite for the determination of the approximate relationship of the dental arches to facilitate the mounting of one of the tracing devices upon the bases covering the casts of the patients arch. For this type of bite, it is preferable to use one or two thicknesses of soft wax on the ribs of the bite block followed by pressing the bite block against the maxillary ridge. After the impression of the maxillary ridge is formed, a like procedure is fol lowed for the mandibular ridge wherein some form of dental adhesive is utilized, or zinc oxide paste is used. For final locking and determination of bite, a pool of hot wax is formed in the grooves 20 and 21 by a hot spatula whereupon the patient bites the blocks together and upon cooling, the bite blocks are locked in a given position.

It is to be particularly observed that the construction of the bite blocks is such that the ribs 12 will readily deform with the result that protuberances on the ridges are accommodated.

I claim:

1. A new article of manufacture, including: maxillary and mandibular bite blocks and means for locking the bite blocks together comprising: a stud on the occlusal rim of the maxillary bite block and an elongated groove formed in the occlusal rim of the mandibular bite block, the groove being wider than the stud to permit stud movement therein for protrusive, retrusive and straight lateral movements between the bite blocks.

2. Improvements of the character disclosed, including maxillary and mandibular bite blocks, each 'bite block provided with an occlusal wall and buccal, lingual and labial flanges divergently extending to the top edge of References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,897,594 8/1959 Kopec et al. 323

FOREIGN PATENTS 328,571 4/1930 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. 

1. A NEW ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, INCLUDING: MAXILLARY AND MANDIBULAR BITE BLOCKS AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE BITE BLOCKS TOGETHER COMPRISING: A STUD ON THE OCCLUSAL RIM OF THE MAXILLARY BITE BLOCK AND AN ELONGATED GROOVE FORMED IN THE OCCLUSAL RIM OF THE MANDIBULAR BITE BLOCK, THE GROOVE BEING WIDER THAN THE STUD TO PERMIT STUD MOVEMENT THEREIN FOR PROTRUSIVE, RETRUSIVE AND STRAIGHT LATERAL MOVEMENTS BETWEEN THE BITE BLOCKS. 